Here are some photo highlights of our 2nd annual mini-golf tournament at Red River College Library, Notre Dame Campus. A big thank-you goes to Bettina Allen for planning the event and to all of the Library staff who volunteered to make it happen. It was great to see RRC staff and students having so much fun in the Library!

A project management assignment planted a seed that bloomed at the Roblin Centre’s John and Bonnie Buhler Library. Library Technician Rosemary Woodby with the support of a Program Innovation Fund (PIF) was able to procure two six foot tall, self-watering planters. A partnership with the Greenspace Horticultural students and their instructor, Ruth Rob, supplied the plants. Using the knowledge they have acquired as part of the Horticulture Practice course, the students planned the design and layout; chose and grew the plants and on a bright sunny Apr 13th installed them in the planters. The Reading Room’s trademark sunlight takes care of the rest.

Living Walls, sometimes called Green Walls, have sprung up in a variety of settings, both inside and out. Some of the larger interior walls are physically connected to the HVAC system to actively pull air in for better circulation. Our wall isn’t quite so complicated however, using a ‘passive system’ as illustrated by the Florafelt system (Pictured right). While the project is not without risks ranging from plant to pump failure, but the gains far outweigh them and we can expect:

Noise reduction

Optimizing humidity

Improved indoor air quality

And the Horticulture students gaining an opportunity to work in a vertical format that is gaining popularity with both interior and exterior landscaping.

Last but not least, the greenery provides some welcome relief for staff and students from the stressful periods during the academic year. Woodby and Rob hope to apply what they have learned from installing this wall and add a second next year.

Before

Image: Rosemary Woodby

After

October is Canadian Library Month. The Library invites you to show off your artistic talent by illustrating a 3 X 5 library index card. This is the second year that we are running this contest. You may review last year’s winners here.

RULES:

Open to all RRC students

Choose up to 3 cards from any Library location.

Illustrate the FRONT of the card incorporating the card’s wording or concept.

Use any physical media.

Write your name and contact information clearly on the back.

Entries must be submitted to either Library location by 4:30PM Friday 31 October 2014.

Entries will be judged on:

Quality of the artwork.

Artistic interpretation.

Creativity.

Submission

Entries must be submitted to either Library location by 4:30 pm on Friday 31 October 2014.

Red River College will once again be celebrating Earth Day. You would be smart to watch for events throughout all campuses.

At the Notre Dame Campus, the Library will be participating in the “Sustainable Living EcoFair” which will be held in the Library Hallway on Thursday, April 24, between 11:00am – 2:00pm. You may visit more than ten sustainability booths and enjoy some delicious local foods. Come on down and compete in some rousing sustainability games!

Library “Book Exchange” and “Plastic bag round up”!

If you bring a book, you may take a book! We will accept ANY gently used book, not just fiction. It’s that simple, and it’s a great way to reuse pre-loved and pre-enjoyed books.

Do you have plastic bags to recycle? The first 50 people to bring in a bunch of plastic shopping bags will receive a free reusable bag courtesy of the RRC Library.

The Earth’s blanket : traditional teachings for sustainable livingEarly in the twentieth century, ethnographer James Teit wrote of the belief among the Nlaka’pmx people that plants and grasses are the blanket of the earth, and that if too much vegetation is destroyed, the earth weeps. In The Earth’s Blanket, ethnobotanist Nancy J. Turner explores the wealth of ecological knowledge and the spiritual connection to the natural world that is fundamental to indigenous cultures. Turner has worked with Aboriginal peoples in North America for more than twenty-five years, and her indigenous teachers have allowed her to share their perspectives about the natural world. Their teachings describe a rich variety of methods of harvesting – while maintaining and enhancing – our natural resources. More than just stories, these narratives underlie a belief system that informs everyday attitudes toward the earth.Link:http://icarus.rrc.mb.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=100631

Environmental problem solving : a how-to guideThis book teaches those on both sides of the table to address their own preconceptions and approach hard issues critically, methodically, and fairly. Hughes combines aspects of the decision-making process from the fields of business, management, and communication science based on extensive research and ample practical experience in the field and classroom. He creates a logical framework to help guide thinking from identifying a problem to finding its solution. Using examples drawn from real-life situations, Environmental Problem Solving will become an invaluable guide for environmentalists, agency professionals, consultants, students, naturalists, and concerned citizens.Link:http://icarus.rrc.mb.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=99343

Everything under the sun : toward a brighter future on a small blue planetIn this latest offering from David Suzuki, the well-known scientist, author, and broadcaster explores the interconnectedness of the world’s myriad environmental challenges. The solutions are there, he argues; we just need the will to act together to bring about change. Suzuki delves into such provocative topics as the difference between human hunters and other predators, our dependence on the sun, and what we must learn from Japan’s recent reactor meltdown. He also doesn’t avoid controversial opinion, especially when it comes to taking on those who stand in the way of resolving serious issues like climate change. Everything Under the Sun includes telling facts and stats, the latest scientific findings, and examples of the positive actions people are taking today toward protecting what we have. Underpinning it all is the recognition that Earth gives us everything we require to live, under a sun that provides the energy to produce food, transport, and all of our modern conveniences.Link:http://icarus.rrc.mb.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=117378

Get out! : 150 easy ways for kids and grown-ups to get into nature and build a greener futureChockful of ideas to get families, classrooms, and groups outside learning about nature, experiencing the world in new ways, and taking a hands-on approach to the three r’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Chapters on being a green consumer and green eater, as well as on choosing an issue and taking a stand, make for a well-rounded yet easy-to-use handbook for making a difference indoors and out. Open to any page to find something to do today. The payoff is huge: Not only is nature just plain awesome to be in, research shows that spending time outdoors can actually improve our physical and emotional health.Link:http://icarus.rrc.mb.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=113572

Seven rules for sustainable communities : design strategies for the post-carbon worldNo other book so clearly connects the form of our cities to their ecological, economic, and social consequences. No other book takes on this breadth of complex and contentious issues and distills them down to such convincing and practical solutions. And no other book so vividly compares and contrasts the differing experiences of U.S. and Canadian cities. Of particular new importance is how city form affects the production of planet-warming greenhouse gases. The author explains this relationship in an accessible way, and goes on to show how conforming to seven simple rules for community design could literally do a world of good.Link:http://icarus.rrc.mb.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=114995

Red River College (RRC) has a growing reputation as one of Canada’s greenest employers, thanks especially to its Sustainability Initiatives: http://blogs.rrc.ca/redgreen/

As an integral part of the College, the Library is no exception and practices sustainability in its everyday operations, such as purchasing environmentally friendly products whenever possible for its own supplies. These include paper products with recycled content, refillable pens, Enviro-Stik pencils, and recycled paper clips.

And, the Library also goes beyond what is required. How does RRC Library uniquely practice sustainability? By:

“Ever-greening” its collection; i.e. weeding to make room for new materials. The old materials are not just thrown out to the landfill. Far from it! Once removed, they are made freely available for anyone to pick up from our freebie display. Leftover items are picked up by the College’s Recycling team.

Practicing responsible printing – by staff and students with a bias to “keep it green and leave it on the screen”.

Saving non-confidential photocopier/printer waste sheets that are blank on at least one side, for use as scrap paper by students and staff.

Check out some of the items that are currently on display in the Notre Dame Campus window display

Please join the Red River College Library in a respectful observation of May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia.

May 17 is symbolic due to its significance in the improvement of the status of gays and lesbians. In removing homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses on a May 17, the World Health Organisation put an end to over a century of homophobia in the medical field.

Homophobia is all the negative attitudes that can lead to rejection and to direct or indirect discrimination towards gay men, lesbians, and bisexual, transsexual or transgender people or toward anyone whose physical appearance or behaviour does not fit masculine or feminine stereotypes.

The theme of the International Day Against Homophobia 2013 campaign is “Fight the Homophobia Web Virus”. For more information visit http://www.homophobiaday.org

Also, keep in mind that the The Pride Winnipeg Festival is coming up soon. “Pride Week” is a multi-day celebration with many events for all segments of the LGBTT* community, all leading up to the main PRIDE DAY celebrations which will occur on Sunday June 2, 2013.

The Manitoba Association of Library Technicians (MALT) has recently awarded Bruce Locken (Library Media/Circulation Clerk) the “Library Support Worker of the Year” award for 2013.

The intent of the award is to recognize a library support staff member who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement or leadership in their library, or in the library community at a local, regional, provincial or national level.

Bruce, who has served RRC for 25 years at both the Exchange District Campus and the Notre Dame Campus was recognized for his excellence in custom service, efficiency, cheerfulness and his sense of humour. Over the years he has developed excellent working relationships with faculty and staff who have come to rely on him for their frequent media bookings and to provide assistance by troubleshooting equipment problems in classrooms .

Aside from his regular duties as Media/Circulation Clerk, you may have also have spotted Bruce in a daffodil hat and vest, and selling bunches of daffodils in support of the March “Daffodil Days” fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Library Staff are also more than familiar with Bruce’s efforts to coordinate one or more of the RRC Library Christmas Cheer Board hampers each year .

We all feel that it is a privilege to work with Bruce, and we’d like to congratulate him. He is a very worthy recipient of the MALT Library Support Staff of the Year award!

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